Showing posts with label American. Show all posts
Showing posts with label American. Show all posts

How to Win American Idol

Every year thousands of people from all around the country rush out to audition for American Idol.  The results are intended to provide the opportunity for everyone in the country to vote for the contestant that they feel is best for the title of American Idol.  What actually occurs usually resembles more of a piranha attacking everyone and much less similar to a good friendly conversation or contest.  In order to actually win the competition it is very important to learn how to truly make a great impression, not just on the judges but also on the viewers as well.

For the majority of contestants it is not always a huge deal to be let down towards the end.  Only a single contestant can actually win the show, so coming in 4th place is often good enough.  However, if you are determined that you want to go further than ever before, and you really want to win it is critical that you take some time to really learn how to win.  Once you have a few key issues in place you will be well on your way to the number one finish that you want so badly, without losing track of what is important.

Your first and utmost important tip is to always ensure that you are memorable.  Have you ever watched the show and seen performances only to forget them a few minutes later?  You no doubt have seen several performers like this, and if you are out to win, you do not want to be this performer.  This does not mean that you need to rush out and dye your hair hot pink, wear huge sunglasses and sing with a strange voice.  Rather it does mean you need to connect to the audience, make them interested in you and what you are singing.  If you simply walk out, look terrified and sing for a few minutes you will be quickly forgotten.  If you come out with a song you love, and have a lot of fun you will make a much better impression on the audience and be a lot easier to remember.

While we are talking about impressions, keep in mind the way you look is a huge influence on the audience.  If you go for the Sanjaya look with a huge pony hawk, you are not likely to be taken serious as a performer.  Rather you are likely to be considered the joke of the show.  If you want to be taken serious, you need to have fun with it, without seeming like the class clown trying to sing.  This is extremely important because far too many contestants move from having fun to looking clownish with their performances.

A final suggestion is to watch the ballad songs.  Yes they are beautiful and can be extremely popular, but the slow tempo of the song also makes it much easier to be forgotten the moment you walk off stage.  If people are watching recaps of the show and cannot remember what you sang, then it is certainly time to rethink your song choices.  You need a song that will connect the audience and get them moving.  An audience that is moving while you sing is much more likely to actually remember you, rather than the soft soulful ballad that they forgot about almost immediately after you were finished singing.

American Idol Contestants – Instant Stardom and Off

Everybody runs around talking continuously about each season of American Idol as if it is the greatest experience ever in the world.  But if you have been watching the show for a while, you are very much aware that there was 6 seasons even before the most recent.  This leaves 7 seasons worth of rejected potential Idols wondering around the world trying to make a life for themselves.  While some of the previous contestants have gone on to do amazing things with their careers, even more have slipped into the cracks again.

Season one was the start of something huge. Not only was there two hosts, remember Brian Dunkleman?  Do not feel bad, most people have no clue who he is or that he was involved.  But there was also contestants such as Justin Guarini, Kelly Clarkson, and even Tamyra Gray to mention a few it was an incredible season.  The overall excitement was mounting heavily but where have these contestants actually gone?  Kelly Clarkson of course emerged as the winner and is still active in the music industry.  Justin Guarini has made a few television appearances, and even released a few albums but his commercial success has been significantly limited.  Tamyra Gray has found to date the greatest success on television appearing in several different shows.  She has also recently found success in the Broadway showing of “Rent.”

Season two started with a bang, and brought with it the former marine Josh Gracin who has gone onto win the hearts of country music lovers, Carmen Rasmusen who also released a country music album and even brought with it Kimberly Locke, Clay Aiken, and the amazing Ruben Studdard.  With the talent that emerged from this season it was undeniable that the show was in full swing.  Ruben went on to record several albums, while Clay Aiken has found great deals of success with both albums and even on Broadway.  Others like Carmen, Josh and Kimberly are not as followed, but have still received attention following their time on the show.

Season three found contestants like Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia Barrino and the notorious William Hung who while not an actual finalist still lives on in the hearts of all true fans for what not to do at an audition.  Additional treasures were found in Diana DeGarmo as well.  From season three, it was rather obvious that it was a bit harder to find lasting talent.  Jennifer Hudson has so far emerged as the most successful contestant of the season, and after being booted in a 7th place finish she has gone onto star in Dreamgirls with Jamie Foxx and Beyonce Knowles and even win an Academy Award for her performance.  Fantasia meanwhile has grabbed headlines for her strange antics, failure to appear for performances on Broadway and less than stellar commercial success.

Season four brought out all of the bad boys of rock, with Constantine Maroulis and even Bo Bice.  By bringing the two rockers to the stage, it was a shift to a different style of music, and it has been these two contestants credited with inspiring season five contestant Chris Daughtry to try out.  Winning the season was Carrie Underwood, who has been an enormous success and to date the most successful American Idol winner yet.  The remaining contestants from the year have managed to slip back into the background with only occasional news stories, such as Vonzell Solomon the third place contestant arrested for a handgun at an airport.